Trophy fish often end up in one of two places, according to Nevada Department of Wildlife fisheries biologist Mark Warren: in the record book or on a platter.

"Unfortunately, a lot of state records have been eaten and not recorded," said Warren.

Those fish that were recorded during 2006 appear in the just-released "Trophy Fish Program Stream and Lake Records." It includes trophy fish recorded since 1968. The report is available on the agency's website, www.ndow.org, as a PDF file.

The book can be a useful tool for anglers and biologists alike. "Record books like this can identify both hotspots and declines, information anglers can use," said Warren. "With only 14 biologists in the field, it's also a management tool for us - we can see if a water is producing big fish and even identify trends."

The report details record-sized fish caught in Nevada: the largest fish of the year by species, all trophy fish entrants for the year, and a summary of record fish by water. Winning entries receive certificates from the department; state records receive a plaque.

David Lorain will receive a plaque for his 2006 state record-breaking three pound, one-ounce 16.1-inch white crappie the he pulled from Rye Patch Reservoir.

"We usually get around 60-70 entries each year," said Warren. "But this year we received 131 entries. We even had two anglers competing to see who could catch the most walleye and wipers from Rye Patch Reservoir and the Humboldt River, and they submitted 54 entries between them," said Warren.

The seasoned angler will spot some odd fish records, like silver salmon, tiger muskie, golden trout and northern pike. Prohibited species often slip out of private ponds and into state waters. Some of the trophy species were once stocked in Nevada waters but no longer are.

To be considered for a state record, an entry form must be completed and the fish weighed on a certified scale while witnessed by an NDOW employee. A photo of the fish must also be submitted.

"Some anglers prefer to catch and release, and it can be a challenge to get the fish properly recorded. Cutthroat trout from Pyramid Lake and largemouth bass at Lake Mead have been successfully recorded and returned to the water. Who knows? Maybe those two will be caught and again be recorded on the pages of the 'Trophy Fish Stream and Lake Records,'" Warren said.